Latest News

Recent News

Matt Bartkowski is battling for one of the Flames' final two defensive roster spots.

Bartkowski needs to edge out one of Rasmus Andersson and Brett Kulak. With 235 NHL games on his resume, Bartkowski has a level of experience his two competitors lack. That might ultimately be what tips the scale in his favor and allows him to make the team. However, he would likely be serving as the squad's seventh defenseman and he wouldn't be worth owning in standard fantasy leagues. Sep 27 - 4:44 AM

Matt Bartkowski's first goal in a Calgary uniform was a big one as it sent the game into overtime.

Bartkowski's goal tied the game with St. Louis at 2. The Flames eventually won it in overtime on Sean Monahan's goal but the move to ink Bartkowski to a two-way deal in mid-February paid dividends on Saturday. Bartkowski has little fantasy value but he had some on Saturday. He has only a goal and two points in 17 games this season. Mar 26 - 7:11 AM

Matt Bartkowski recorded his first point with the Flames during Sunday's 5-2 win over the Islanders.

It only took eight games, but he's finally in the books with a helper. A few more of those and he'll be a staple at the bottom of the rotation. Mar 5 - 7:31 PM

Matt Bartkowski isn't sure if his Flames debut will come on Saturday night against Vancouver.

Coach Glen Gulutzan said he hasn't made a decision yet. "We wanted to make sure he got through a good practice here," said the Calgary bench boss after Friday's session. "(Thursday) we gave him our five-on-five plan. But like I said, Bart's familiar with a lot of what we do ... we'll make a decision (Saturday). It'll either be (Bartowski) or Joki (Jyrki Jokipakka)." Feb 18 - 10:20 AM

Depth Charts

Sean Monahan scored the game-winning goal in overtime and he added an assist with a plus-2 rating in Wednesday's victory in Los Angeles.

Monahan has at least one point in each of his past three outings, including the game-winning goals in both games of the Southern California leg of the road trip. The 22-year-old is just scratching the surface of what he can do and he still has plenty of room to get even better after a 58-point campaign in 2016-17.

Sam Bennett and the Calgary Flames' young core is looking forward to playing with Jaromir Jagr.

Although it's not official quite yet, Jagr is expected to sign a one-year contract with Calgary. "He's a guy I looked up to my whole life," Bennett said. "It'll be really cool to have him on our team. I'm looking forward to an opportunity to play with him a little bit. It would be amazing. I might be a little star struck, at first. All the guys in here, we were joking about it. Honestly, it's incredible. It wasn't even a thought, and he was playing in the NHL." Bennett might get a chance to play on the same line as Jagr, which could help Bennett's development. After all, Jagr made his NHL debut in 1990, which is six years before Bennett was even born, so he has a wealth of knowledge to pass onto the young forward and the Flames' other young players.

It was discussed last season between Stajan and coach Glen Gulutzan as the Flames are deep down the middle. "I talked to him about that last season, and he has no problem playing wing," Gulutzan said. "He’s an intelligent player. I would look at anything that’s going to help us be a better team. But those pieces have to fit together … I haven’t tried him at wing, but I haven’t ruled it out. I think only once or twice, I put him on wing. Wherever the best fit is … but chances are, last year, he played mostly center." The 33-year-old veteran has no fantasy value as he should get 20-25 points this season but is the Flames top penalty-killer, a role that should be increased this season due to the referees calling more slashing penalties.

Freddie Hamilton will be a healthy scratch in Friday's game against Ottawa.

This will be his fifth straight game as a healthy scratch. The forward had just two goals in and a minus-3 rating in 26 games last season. Brett Kulak and Tanner Glass will also watch the game from the press box. None of these three players will have any kind of fantasy value this season.

Johnny Gaudreau picked up two assists in a 4-3 overtime win versus the Kings Wednesday night.

After being held off the scoresheet in the Flames' opener, Gaudreau has recorded at least a point in three straight games. He already has a goal and seven points in four games this season. He had something of a down campaign in 2016-17 with 61 points, but we're looking for him to finish back in that 70-80 point range this season.

Matthew Tkachuk posted two goals with a plus-1 rating and a season-high eight shots on net in Wednesday's 4-3 overtime victory in Los Angeles.

One of Tkachuk's markers came on the man advantage. The son of former NHLer Keith Tkachuk now has at least one point in each of his past three outings. He was hindered by a hip injury late in the preseason but he hasn't shown any ill effects of the the ailment during the early going.

Tanner Glass has agreed to a one-year, $650,000 contract with the Calgary Flames.

Glass entered the Flames' training camp on a tryout basis and managed to impress coach Glen Gulutzan during the preseason. "He was very effective for the Rangers in the Ottawa series," Gulutzan said noted, referring to the 2017 playoffs. "Ottawa had to change a bit of their lineup in response to the Rangers having Glass in. He adds that element of intimidation through hard work and physical play. That’s important to a hockey club." Glass is a veteran of 511 NHL games. He'll likely serve on the Flames' fourth line, so his fantasy value will be very limited.

Jagr got an assist on Johnny Gaudreau's second goal of the game. The veteran has now played in three contests for the Flames. The 45-year-old is playing in his 24th NHL season and barring any significant injury, will become the NHL's all-time leader in games played before the end of the season. He really does not have fantasy value this season.

"I didn’t have a number that I wanted to get down to. I just knew that I have to stay light, I have to stay quick, I have to keep up with these young guys ..." Brouwer explained. "That was part of it — just making sure that I give myself every opportunity to be as quick and as powerful as I can." The 2016-17 campaign was a step back for him offensively as he scored 13 goals and 25 points in 74 contests. It wouldn't be surprising to see him bounce back this season by recording around 40 points.

Michael Frolik scored a goal and registered an assist in the Flames' 4-3 win against Los Angeles on Wednesday.

Frolik's goal at 7:47 of the first period was his first marker of the 2017-18 campaign. He now has three points in four games this season. In 2016-17 he finished with 17 goals and 44 points in 82 contests.

Curtis Lazar will be a healthy scratch in Wednesday's game against the Edmonton Oilers.

The 22-year-old just hasn't lived up to the hype since being selected by the Senators in the first round of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. Lazar had one goal and four points in 37 games with Ottawa and Calgary last season. Freddie Hamilton and Brett Kulak will also serve as scratches tonight.

Dougie Hamilton had a pretty dismal game against the Senators Friday night.

He was a team-worst minus three in the Flames' 6-0 loss to Ottawa. Hamilton has two assists in five games but no points on the power play. Look for the talented rearguard to pick up his play in the coming weeks.

Mark Giordano scored a goal in a 5-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night.

Giordano's goal came shorthanded after he took a feed in his skates from Dougie Hamilton and fired the puck passed Markstrom. The goal marked the 100th of Giordano's career. Not bad for an undrafted free-agent signed by the Flames in 2004. Giordano is up to three points in six games to start the year and should be owned in all formats.

T.J. Brodie scored twice and added a pair of assists in a 6-3 win over Winnipeg Saturday.

It was redemption for the defenseman who seemed to get whiplash watching Connor McDavid go around him so quickly in the opener on Wednesday. The talented offensive rearguard failed to hit the 40 point mark last season but is in good shape early in the 2017-18 season to do it for the third time in the past four years. If he is not on any roster in fantasy, grab him now.

Hamonic was acquired from the Islanders at the NHL Draft and he will add some sandpaper to Calgary's top-four group. "I think that's just the way I grew up playing the game – you've got to do what you've got to do," he said. "If you ask players, they'll say I'm someone to who wears his heart on his sleeve and invests a lot in the game."

Michael Stone was blanked at the offensive end Monday in Anaheim, but he posted four hits and a pair of blocked shots in the 2-0 victory.

Stone picked up just three goals and 15 points last season, but he was able to contribute 125 hits and 143 blocked shots. That's his calling card, and the only reason he should be rostered in deeper fantasy pools.

Matt Bartkowski is battling for one of the Flames' final two defensive roster spots.

Bartkowski needs to edge out one of Rasmus Andersson and Brett Kulak. With 235 NHL games on his resume, Bartkowski has a level of experience his two competitors lack. That might ultimately be what tips the scale in his favor and allows him to make the team. However, he would likely be serving as the squad's seventh defenseman and he wouldn't be worth owning in standard fantasy leagues.

Brett Kulak is one of five Calgary defensemen in the running for the sixth and seventh spots on their blueline.

Kulak's competition is Mark Bartkowski, Tyler Wotherspoon, Rasmus Andersson and Juuso Valimaki the Flames first round pick in 2017. It's likely that Valimaki will need more seasoning so Kulak has to beat out two of the other three. "In the end, they’re going to take the better player, who they think is going to help the team," Kulak said. "I hope it’s me." Kulak has played 30 NHL games in his career with 21 coming last season where he had three assists. He has no fantasy value.

Mike Smith stopped 27 of 29 shots in a 5-2 win against the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday.

It was a much needed bounce back performance for Smith, who got lit up by the Senators Friday night. He made several big saves and looked in complete control for large portions of the contest. The win improves his record to 4-2-0 on the season with a 2.59 goals against average and .929 save percentage.

Mike Smith has started all five of Calgary's games so far this season, including Friday night's 6-0 loss to Ottawa, so it may be Lack time in Calgary. We would be a little leery about starting Lack Saturday night against a surprisingly effective Vancouver squad.